Musings

The Tabi Boot

Tabi Boot, 1989

Tabi Boot, 1989

Tabi Boot, 1989

Tabi Boot, 1995

Martin Margiela premiered his signature ‘Tabi Boot’ in his first womenswear collection for Spring/Summer 1989, the split-toe leather boot perched atop a cylindrical heel was inspired by traditional Japanese one-toe socks that date back to the early 15th century.

Posted October 31st, 2017By
Colby Mugrabi

Margiela’s spring ’89 show transformed from avant-garde fashion spectacle into performance art when the Belgium designer doused his models in red paint, covered their faces with nylon and paraded them down a white cotton catwalk. The Tabi Boot-pattern-stained runway cloth smeared with red, tabi-shaped footprints was then cut and taped together to form waistcoats for the designer’s fall/winter 1989 runway show.